Apparatus for coating cylindrical objects

ABSTRACT

A device for applying coating to a succession of traveling cylindrical objects includes a pair of discs on the outer peripheral portion of which the coating is carried to the objects. A spreader projects between the discs contacting them inwardly of the zone of coating application and spreads the discs so that entry between the discs of the objects to be coated is facilitated.

[ 1 Sept. 12, 1972 United States Patent Townsend 2,740,375 4/1956 Diehl et al. 18/503 X [54] APPARATUS FOR COATING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS [72] Inventor: Bruce A. Townsend, 4061 Western Primary Examiner John McIntosh Dr., Oshkosh, Wis. 54901 March 10, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 122,774

AttorneyDaniel J. Hanlon, Jr., William D. Herrick and Raymond J. Miller [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A device for applying coating to a succession of traveling cylindrical objects includes a pair of discs on the outer peripheral portion of which the coating is carried to the objects. A spreader projects between the discs contacting them inwardly of the zone of 92 wam R121 8 1 2 n sw ,MZ 8 ,l m was, W 3% .l 2% W n i 8 2 1 .1 MK .I ".l) U "1 mm4 munn mim n 9 "M 3 "NW2 .1 l 1 1 1 S UhF M M 5S5 coating application and spreads the discs so that entry [56] References Cited between the discs of the objects to be coated is UNITED STATES PATENTS facllitated,

Winkel 11.8/DIG. 9 5 Claims, 3 Drawing APPARATUSFOR COATING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention v I This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for coating objects traveling in succession between rotating discs which carry the coating material on the outer periphery to their objects.

2. The Invention With Relation to the Prior Art It is known to coat objects by applying the coating to the outer peripheral portion of discs rotating together in facing relation and to direct objects into contact with the coating on the discs. I have found that a frequent difficulty with such apparatus is that slight variations in the size'of the objects to be coated may result in a considerably variable coating application. Additionally, in many instances the objects being directed to the discs maynot be absolutely uniform in cross-section, causing the coating application to vary. and, in some instances, partial skipping in coating application. Typical of products which maybe coated with the type of'apparatus under. consideration are tampons. Such are relatively compact but have. absorbent surfaces and, commonly, a lubricant material is applied to these products.

l have found that theapplication of coatingmaterial is facilitated if the discs, between which the objects to be coated are directed, are at least slightly resilient. Then the discs may be spread apart at a zone of their periphery adjacent the entry area of the objects to the discs. Such spreading may be conveniently accomplished by simply projecting a relatively rigid element between the discs to distort them and force them apart. The distortion is suitably such that the resilient discs recover substantially immediately to their original shape after passing the spreader means.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference tothe following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein;

I FIG. 1 is a perspective and fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary and detail view illustrating the action of the spreader; and

H6. 3 is a fragmentary and detail view illustrating vided by the chain carrier may cause the tampons to the preferred location of the spreader in the step of applying coating.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the numeral 1 indicates a container for liquid coating material having a suitable liquid coating material level 2. A horizontally projecting shaft 3 mounts-a pair of discs 4,5 and hubs 6,7 border the discs assisting in their retention on the shaft 3. Suitably, nuts, one of which is shown at 8 in FIG. 1, are threadedly received on shaft 3 and abut the hubs, securing them in position.

The shaft 3 is driven by any suitable power transmission means from a source (not shown) through power transmission mechanism as shaft 10, belt 11 and pulley 12. The specific nature of the power transmission equipment forms no part of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a chain 13 is provided with a plurality of angles 14 each of which retains a holder 15 for a tampon l6. Tampon 16 is of the stick type as illustrated, the stick being indicated at 17. The tampons 16 are retained within housings 18 which are rotatable relative to the holders. The housings may, if desired, be

approach the discs other than exactly medially of them. For these and other reasons, I prefer to locally spread the discs in the zone of initial contact of the tampons with the discs. For the purpose I provide a spreader 19 in the form of a short hard rod of plastic, preferably having semi-spherical surfaces for abutment with the discs. The spreader 19 extends transversely to and is carried on the extremity of an arm 20. The arm 20 projects from andis integral with a plate 21. Plate 21 is adjustably secured by common pin-in-slot arrangements 22. The provision of two adjustment units 22 provides for guided sliding movement of the plate 21 and arm 20 on the angle iron support 23 in one horizontal planar direction. The depending portion of the angle iron 23 indicated at 24 is itself retained on an upstanding base 25 and the angle 23 is made adjustably horizontally in a second horizontal plane by the pair of pin-in-slot arrangements 26. Accordingly, the spreader 19 may be readily manually positioned in a horizontal plane and parallel to a plane in which the tampons travel.

When urged between the discs, the discs become distorted as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The discs are, in fact, opened just slightly but sufficient to permit ready entry of the tampons to the area between the discs. The resilience of the discs is such that, in their rotation, they quickly resume their conventional planar surfaces. Accordingly, coating material carried upwardly from the outer peripheral zones of the discs is applied to the tampons contacting the discs as the tampons leave the distorted area and pass on.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the spreader contacts the discs inwardly of the periphery beyond the annulus of coating material applied. The inner border of this annulus is illustrated at 27 in FIG. 3. Thus, the spreader is maintained quite free of coating material. In some instances a very fluid coating may contact the spreader but such is readily cleared as necessary since the spreader and its carrying arm are readily accessible.

The discs 4,5 are suitably of a resilient plastic or metal so that, upon removal of the deforming force caused by the spreader, they regain their normal condition quickly. The hubs are not necessary to the action but are an aid in providing a restricted field for the distortion of the discs.

As many apparently widely different embodiment of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for applying a coating material to a succession of generally cylindrical elements traveling in spaced relation, a container for retaining coating material, a shaft, a pair of discs mounted on the shaft in facing relation for receiving a generally cylindrical element therebetween, said discs being resiliently deformable and having peripheral surfaces extending into said container for contacting coating material, means for directing generally cylindrical elements in succession between and in contact with said discs from an inlet side of the discs to an outlet side to apply coating material from the discs to the elements passing therethrough, and spreader means projecting between said discs on'the inlet side to spread the discs to provide for easy entry of the element to the disc.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,690,296 Dated September 12, 1972 Inventofls) Bruce A. Townsend It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert [73] Assignee Kimberly-Clark Corporation Signed and sealed this 1st day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 H0459) uscoMM-bc 60376-P69 USv GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE ISB 0-366-33L 

1. In a device for applying a coating material to a succession of generally cylindrical elements traveling in spaced relation, a container for retaining coating material, a shaft, a pair of discs mounted on the shaft in facing relation for receiving a generally cylindrical element therebetween, said discs being resiliently deformable and having peripheral surfaces extending into said container for contacting coating material, means for directing generally cylindrical elements in succession between and in contact with said discs from an inlet side of the discs to an outlet side to appLy coating material from the discs to the elements passing therethrough, and spreader means projecting between said discs on the inlet side to spread the discs to provide for easy entry of the element to the disc.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spreader contacts the discs inwardly of the peripheral surface areas which contact coating material.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resiliently deformable discs are of plastic material and a hub supports each disc centrally of the disc.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spreader means is a short rigid rod having semi-spherical ends for contacting the discs.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an arm supports the spreader means and said arm is adjustably positionable to provide for positioning of the spreader means. 